Members receive access to a range of exclusive benefits such as events at the UN and across the United States, as well as opportunities to advocate, host Model UN conferences, and connect young professionals to UN experts.

They say New York City is the city that never sleeps, and over 1,500 grassroots change-makers from across the nation joined forces on February 23 at UN Headquarters in New York City for UNA-USA’s Global Engagement Summit to prove it.

It’s no secret there is division in our country and in Washington right now, but you would never know it by looking out at the attendees of all ages, races, genders, and political affiliations brought together by one common cause: to tell the world that the U.S. stands with the UN.

These 10 moments from the 2018 Global Engagement Summit are a reflection of the day’s magnitude.

New York, NY (February 23, 2018) – A historic number of Americans will show their support for the United Nations today at the United Nations Association of the United States of America’s (UNA-USA) Global Engagement Summit (previously known as Members’ Day) at UN Headquarters in New York City.

One powerful way to inspire Americans to support the critical work of the United Nations is by connecting local communities with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Iowa UNA has done just that through their EmpowerHer campaign, which connects the lack of access to feminine hygiene products worldwide to issues being faced by girls and women at home in Iowa. The campaign was started in fall 2017 and promotes the wellbeing of women and girls, a priority encompassed in several of the SDGs.

We hope you have had a good and safe holiday season. As we begin this new year, we are proud of the impact we have made through our UNA-USA membership and leadership, and the progress we made in continuing to grow and expand our membership and programs. Key in this progress is our UNA-USA National Council, which represents the nationwide membership of the Chapters, Divisions, and national members, and will be the source of new ideas, initiatives, and productivity for our association and the UN. Our bi-annual nomination and election process for Regional Representatives to serve on the National Council is officially open.

Washington, DC (January 4, 2018) – The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) today announced Emmy award-winning public television host, best‐selling cookbook author, restaurateur, and former refugee Lidia Bastianich as its first celebrity champion for refugee youth education.

Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, November 16, the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA), in partnership with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA), sent a letter on behalf of nearly 7,000 Americans to U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, asking him to continue working with the United Nations to protect and promote human rights, both at home and abroad, by fighting human trafficking and advancing the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Washington, D.C. (October 19, 2017) — Exactly one month after President Trump and Ambassador Nikki Haley’s first appearance at the United Nations General Assembly, a new bipartisan poll released today by the Better World Campaign finds that 65 percent of Republicans and specifically 58 percent of Trump voters agree the UN is still needed today. Similarly, among millennial voters, 86 percent also agreed with that sentiment, making support for the UN one area that millennials and Trump voters agree on.

The 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) has started at UN Headquarters in New York City, bringing world leaders together to peacefully discuss the most critical issues of our time. Here are 4 ways you can participate from home:

Ms. Munira Khalif, Harvard University student and co-founder of girls’ education nonprofit “Lighting the Way,” will advance youth engagement at the UN as sixth annual U.S. Youth Observer

Washington, DC (July 25, 2017) – The United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA), in partnership with the U.S. Department of State, announced today Ms. Munira Khalif as the sixth annual U.S. Youth Observer to the UN. Khalif, a Minnesota-native and rising junior at Harvard University, was chosen from a competitive pool of nearly 350 applicants that included top-ranked university students and young professionals from across the United States. In her role as U.S. Youth Observer to the UN, Khalif will represent a youth voice at the United Nations General Assembly and other UN events throughout the year.

With the future of America’s international engagement in the spotlight, a historic number of Americans are gathered in the nation’s capital to collectively call on Congress for full U.S. funding for the United Nations. More than 300 Americans from across the country are taking part in this landmark advocacy mobilization, which occurs on the final day of the United Nations Association of the United States of America’s (UNA-USA) Leadership Summit in Washington, DC.

Washington, DC – On Thursday, May 4, the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) joined key environmental organizations in sending a letter, on behalf of 65,000 Americans, to U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, urging him to keep the U.S. in the Paris Agreement on climate change.

U.S. Office of Management and Budget proposal released today “would severely jeopardize U.S. national security interests and compromise American leadership,” cautions Better World Campaign President Peter Yeo

Washington, DC – On Tuesday, February 28, UNA-USA and more than 100 other civil society organizations sent a letter to Congressional Leaders—Senators Mitch McConnell and Charles Schumer and Representatives Paul Ryan and Nancy Pelosi—urging them to support strong U.S. leadership at the United Nations, including by fully meeting our nation’s financial obligations to the organization.

New York, NY – The largest assembly ever of Americans gathered in support of the United Nations will take place today at the organization’s headquarters in New York City. More than 1,200 Americans from across the country are expected to attend the annual Members’ Day at the United Nations event, hosted by the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA), a 50-state grassroots membership organization that is part of the United Nations Foundation.

Washington, DC –OnFriday,February 10, senior representatives from key human rights organizations sent a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urging him to maintain U.S. engagement with the UN Human Rights Council.

In response to proposed legislation to cut U.S. funding for the UN, Better World Campaign President Peter Yeo advises, “Withholding funding from the UN will significantly jeopardize America’s influence and ability to steer the international agenda.”

Every October, United Nations Association chapters around the United States engage their communities by hosting events to celebrate the founding of the United Nations and elevate awareness of global issues. This year, our network of campus and community chapters have banned together to host a record 160 UN Day events!

On Wednesday, August 10, 2016, the United Nations Association, in partnership with the Annenberg Foundation, the International Rescue Committee and Yoobi, hosted a back-to-school event welcoming refugee families to the Los Angeles community.